The Covert Action of Prayer

Good morning family.

How y’all feel today? Y’all ready to get into this word today? (This is the most important part of the service NOT because im preaching, but BECAUSE this is where the READING and HEARING of God’s word)

Now as I share some key points about this scripture I encourage you NOT just listen but to engage it because Participation is better than Observation.

Alright. So today we close up another sermon sub-series with our final message on the Covert Kingdom.

And today's message is going to come from Luke chapter 4 verses 42 through 44.

And it reads

42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,

43but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.'

{PRAY}

The title of this sermon is called “The Covert Action of Prayer” {REPEAT}

First we are going to talk about the importance of PRAYER and then I got three points to help us remember why we pray: (1) Sacred Time, (2) Secluded Place, (3) Secret Mission. Sorry Heather and Alan, I tried not to do alliteration but it was just standing out so clearly.

Back to the Message.

When my lovely wife Sabrina and I first met, I did not give my wife the proper time of day. (those of you who know the long story, it was bad)

But even when we first starting dating I did not prioritize our relationship, AND Sabrina was not having any part of that.

She said either we were going to be serious about our relationship or we would not have a relationship at all.

Now this was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, she was God fearing, could cook, and was smart too.

So I said to myself DONT MESS THIS UP. So I concluded that I better give her time.

And something interesting happened. The more time I gave her, the more I got to know her.

The more I got to know her, the more I loved her.

And the more I loved her, the more I needed to be around her. To the point of when she goes away whether (3 days, 1 week) I’m pathetic, im hopeless, i’m lost without her. So its your fault (Sabrina) im spoiled I’ll admit that.

But the point is, we will never truly KNOW, TRUST, and FOLLOW Jesus without spending meaningful time with him.

We get to spend meaningful time with Jesus through prayer.

And in it's simplest of terms prayer is just talking to God, but from a kingdom perspective it is much more.

You see we cant expect fly-by, fragmented, repetitions of words spoken thoughtlessly into the air as we run through our busy and rushed day, to move the heart of God, yet alone anyone else. (Aint nobody got time for that).

We treat prayer as an optional checkbox to be more Christian, IF we were to do it.

When in fact it is a wonderful privilege that has been afforded to Us by Jesus.

As PD pointed out last week there is no special access given to me as a pastor or to person on staff at this church, or to our volunteers who serve each week.

Each and every one of us has been received a wonderful confirmation from GOD saying “ACCESS GRANTED”.

We get to use this access through prayer. But many of us have ignored this marvelous privilege for things that matter little in the grand scheme of life.

I read a quote recently in a book and it struck me to my core:

“Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity, none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer.” -Fenelon (late 1600’s)

Another author said

“We do more of everything else than of praying. As poor as our giving is, our contributions of money exceed our offerings of prayer.” - Bounds (late 1800s).

Ouch. That is telling of our approach to prayer and the sad thing is not only were these said in the 16 and 18 hundreds, but since then nothing has changed.

In our culture today, Christians or others have been blasted for the phrase “thoughts and prayers” on social media.

AND It would be easy to say that people hate this phrase because they cant see how prayer even helps, and truthfully I wouldn't expect anyone not of faith to see the value in it.

But a worse thought might be that, MAYBE people hate this phrase, because they know people don't actually pray, and its just become an excuse to not actually do anything.

Others have made excuses for why they dont pray.

They say “well I dont know how to do it”.

Do I just talk to myself when I close my eyes; do I have to hold my hands a certain way in order to initiate the prayer.

Do I have to say father God multiple times; do I have to sound like a Southern Baptist preacher-ah when I pray-ah; does that make it more anointed-ah.

Those things don't matter if they are not genuinely you.

You see God is always seeking true and genuine relationship with his people, just waiting on us to come to him.

And although it may seem that prayer has lost its value in the hearts of man; it certainly has NOT lost its power in the hands of God.

The originally leaders of the church in the bible and Jesus both believed this, AND exclaimed the importance of praying. Encouraging EVERYONE to pray on ALL occasions.

AND Each one of them prayed because they KNEW the PROMISE of God found Psalm 17:6 that if we call on the name of the Lord, He will turn his ear to us and answer our prayer.

Family do you believe that God hears your cry? Do you believe that God still answers prayers?

Follow me for a moment this morning as we see Jesus model the actions of his prayer life, that turned the world upside down.

And launched an unseen but not so-secret campaign that is still ongoing today.

Today our passage picks up where Jesus has just finished a full night of ministry, healing people and casting out devils.

We can even look at Mark’s account in Mark chapter 1:35-39 to see more details.

Which is crazy because Mark’s account of Jesus life is known as the ESPN version filled with highlights, a high level overview of everything if you will AND Luke’s version was detailed and comparable to a historian.

But for this event, Mark decided to spend some time on it, so its probably noteworthy to take that into account.

Jesus’ day was jammed packed. He preached in the temple all day, came home and healed Peter’s mother-in-law late in the day; and then as the sun was going down which would have signaled for most people that it was time to rest.

Thats when the whole town showed up.

He could have said come back tomorrow or wait til next week I will see you at the synagogue and I will pray for you then. (“You aint got to go home, but you cant stay here.”)

But it’s right then that He decides that he is going to minister. Compassion would not allow him to see His people broken, in need, not well. He was moved to action.

Now we dont know when he stopped ministering but we do know that it was the whole village showed up so we can imagine this took a little bit of time.

But after this it would have been reasonable for someone to say I have done God’s work I deserve some time off.

Pastor David talked about the Sunday nap, which is absolutely divine after a Sunday of ministering, I very rarely get to enjoy it because my kids are rebelling against naps at this age, but too young to go off and leave me alone.

Our campus ministers and some of our students know firsthand that after a campus conference an you have poured out all you got, you are exhausted and you dont feel like doing nothing for 3 days.

They just want some rest.

Jesus rest also, but not in the way the world rests. Which brings us to our 1st point. A SACRED TIME.

Scripture tells us that after that whole night of ministry he woke up EARLY to go off and pray.

But Ps. Andrew how do you know that Jesus was going to pray early in the morning?

Well Mark’s account tells us this, but his track record in scripture also says this

Matthew 14:23 and he went up the mountain by himself to pray

Matthew 26:36 sit here while I go over there and pray

Luke 5:16 He would often withdraw to go and pray

So when Jesus went away He wasnt just going to admire the stars or the trees, and the mountains he already had done that. (7th day creation)

He was going to spend quality time with his father.

Now it was early yall. (Everybody say EARLY). The sun wasn’t even up yet.

His disciples were still sleep, because they only had a general idea where jesus was when they got up to look for him, but we will get to that in a little bit.

How many of you have no issue getting up in the morning (early birds where you at)? How many of you hate getting up in the morning?

(Sabrina go ahead and stand up.) My wife hates the morning and wholesome sunshine and doesn't want anything to disturb her beauty sleep. The tiniest of sound of wakes her up.

I bought a memory foam mattress a couple years ago so she wouldnt hear or feel me get out of bed, there have even been times that my wife has sucked her teeth as she has heard my bones crack in the morning. She hates the morning.

But whether you love it or you hate it there is something special about the morning hours.

Something refreshing about seeing the orange yellow glow rise up over the horizon signifying a brand new day.

Whether you work a graveyard shift or normal 9 to 5 when the Sun rises it signifies that the old is passed away and the New Day has come.

And it is this sacred time that Jesus uses to highlight a practice of holy Communion with the creator that has unfortunately been forgotten.

AGAIN He had just spent all night healing people but despite a long night of miracle work he DID NOT NEGLECT spending time with the one who gave him the ability to do the miracle work.

You might be saying pastor Andrew this is great I know I need to have a sacred time but I am so tired I work two jobs; I’m volunteering my time; plus socializing with my neighbors; and my kids activities;.

I dont have time for prayer. I’m too tired and you be lucky to get a hallelujah out me on sunday, yet alone a hey God on Monday.

OR maybe you say i have burned up from doing ministry, it just doesnt feel the same, i feel empty i feel dry.

Truth is we live in a day and age when so many things can argue for our time and deplets us,

But the way keep our prayer time emphasized above all else, Is to KEEP the ONE we are spending our time with in proper esteem.

If God is Holy, and great, and marvelous, who else can compare.

But its hard to see Him in all his glory when the life we see in front of us is so sad and sorry.

Real rest and refreshment can only come from spending time with our father in heaven.

If you feel empty or dry, be intentional about basking in the presence of God to be filled back up again.

When we minister whether through singing, preaching, feeding the homeless, or hospitality, THAT outflow of love is to come ONLY from our OVERFLOW from spending time with Him

NOT from whatever we can muster up. People have been ministering from empty places too long, robbing themselves of others of the JOY God wants to bestow upon them.

Ministers, work-aholics, and rushed parents, when's the last time you spent an hour in the presence of God?

Family, when we are overwhelmed and have nothing left, prayer time should not be cut BUT should be INCREASED. (Don’t cut out the one person who is actually able to help you.)

You are depleted, attacked, and frustrated with time that is not the time to turn away from God

But it is the time to cry out to the father in heaven who says “come to me all who are weary and heavy laden” and I WILL GIVE YOU RESTS.

Its important to note here, I AM NOT trying to make this legalistic saying that you can only pray in the morning I am not saying that.

We have many other biblical accounts of Jesus praying at various points throughout the day.

But what I am saying is we need to be intentional about setting some time before our day starts whether thats at 6am, 10am for 6:30pm.

We need to call upon the name of the Lord before we read a biased news article, or mindlessly scroll social media,

To seek God's face on the matter first

To prepare your heart to face the challenges you may face at work, with your spouse, or even your children.

And remind ourselves who is actually in control and who is actually holding all things together.

BUT we ONLY get that if we value our time in prayer. AND to do that we got to get away. We got to cut off all the distractions. Which brings us to point #2 SECLUDED PLACE.

In our text of focus, Jesus went to a desolate place. A secluded barren, deserted, unpopulated place. There was nothing.

Talk about UNPLUGGED. This is unplugged for real.

Unplugged from the latest gossip happening at the well in town, unplugged from Peter’s family drama with his mother-in-law, unplugged from lure of fame and success that the townspeople were ready to give them.

He was set apart so that the only thing that would have His attention was God.

Our world is so fast paced and constantly changing that so many things demand our attention.

The primary culprit demanding our attention is the very thing that might be in your pocket right now or on your lap where you watching the game or what you use to read God's word coincidentally.

The interesting thing is we rarely use it for that and mostly use it for the other things.

Our phones in combination with social media takes countless amounts of time away from the Creator who is just waiting to spend some time with us.

Love to see a show of hands IF the 1st thing you do in the morning when you open your eyes in the morning is grab your phones.

And I don't want to bash social media or cell phones they both have tremendous benefits but God warned us in the very beginning NOT TO worship anything other than him for He is a jealous God.

If you want to know if you are worshiping your god of technology, so if you dont break your neck to check your phone when that light or sound notification goes off.

OR if it hasnt gone off check to see why it hasnt gone off.

OR if your not doing anything how many times you pick your phone up to scroll endless pictures and videos.

That thang has got a hold of us, And God is saying leave it, lay it down, and come away with me for little while.

Jesus tells and shows his disciples the importance multiple times of separating themselves from distraction.

With one of the examples being prayer I'm particular.

Matthew 6:6 Jesus is teaching his disciples about prayer and he says

“But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Thats a promise)

The christian movie “War Room” emphasizes this idea and illustrates that the ‘prayer closet” is the “war room”.

Is the place where the battle is actually planned and ultimately won.

Historians talk about how pivotal battles that were won because of UNSEEN actions that were away from the perceived battle.

If we want to start winning some battles in the natural we got to start going into our prayer closets to deal with things in the spiritual.

Ephesians 6:12 for we do not struggle against flesh and blood BUT against SPIRITUAL FORCES.

Family, any actual closet will do. And any size doesn't have to be a walk in.

but if you don't have a closet that's big enough for you to stand in or kneel in sometimes a bathroom, sometimes sitting in your car in a garage will do.

Just somewhere that you can readily get to to separate yourself from the distractions of the world and cry out to your father. To ask, to seek, to knock, to be persistent, AND to NOT GIVE UP.

And as we pray to Him who unseen, away from everyone else, in Secret, God WILL reward us.

Now as we learn to go to our set aside place, spending time with the father, being refreshed, we also learn his will.

Which brings us to the final point a SECRET MISSION.

The people in the town and even his disciples in our text did not understand Jesus' mission.

It is noteworthy it should be underlined in your Bible highlighted if your using the Bible app vs 43 he says "I was sent for THIS purpose."

What is “THIS”? Whats This as Jack skeleton would say.

Well “THIS” is the proclamation that we heard with Pastor Megan about the blind seeing, captives being set free, the poor being taken care

AND THIS is the good news. It's as the Greek translates the euangalion

And that message of good news that comes from the kingdom of God has come and is now here with Jesus Christ and he must share this good news with everyone.

This is his very purpose.

The people couldn't see that there was something much bigger happening than the hometown hero just sounding good in the synagogue. (The old ladies were saying bless your heart baby your doing a real good job is that mary’s boy yes thats mary’s boy)

To the people of that town AND to many of us we see our relationship with Jesus as ONLY personal and individual.

What can Jesus do for me? What benefit does he give me? How can I use him to get the most out of Him?

But Jesus has called us not just to himself but also to a body of people, who are called to reach all people, to become a reconciled people.

Without being in communication with our father in heaven our faith will be about executing our will; for our needs for what we want; when we want it.

And we will neglect to think about anyone else, to think about our next door neighbor; to think about our city; our state; our nation; yet alone the world.

Our hearts won't be moved to compassion for Ukraine or Russia because we only focus on what I haven't got yet.

And there's nothing inherently wrong with praying for what you need because scripture does say you have not because you have not,

But LIKE ALL things heavenly, IF our hearts are never moved for our neighbor

We will begin to ask “why does it matter if we help them?”. “Who really is our neighbor?” (sound familiar)

The Bigger picture was always Jesus’ mission.

Check one of the most notable times that Jesus rebukes is when he rebukes his own disciple for not seeing the bigger picture.

Peter wanted to make sure that Jesus never left him AND that his earthly kingdom would be a success.

On one hand a good individual finite thing.

But Jesus said I must leave you for a short time, so that I never leave the people of the world.

Jesus in his rebuke literally says get behind me Satan.

AND He does this, BECAUSE Satan doesn't want the message of salvation to go forth. (He doesnt want you to hear the good news.)

Satan doesn't want you to know that you've been healed

Satan doesn't want you to know that you've been set free

Satan doesn't want you to know that you've been welcome back as sons and daughters.

And this good news is good news for you and everyone else.

God does think about us individually because we are all important to Him.

BUT HE also cares about every individual that will be impacted by us with the message we carry. Thats the bigger picture.

In the OT, God was thinking about Joseph (yes), but also his brothers and father as well as the land of Egypt and the surrounding Nations.

God was thinking about Moses (yes) but also about his brother (aaron) and sister (miraim) as well as the Israelites, and the nation's in the promised Land.

God was thinking about you as well as the people closest to you and well as this city as well as the nations that you will impact.

Yes you, because You are apart of the secret mission.

Just as Jesus said that he was sent with the purpose spreading the good news proclaiming the kingdom of God

We now carry that same mission when we received the Great commission in Matthew 28.

It's great that you come to church and have heard the good news for yourself, and you feel good, and you are saved, and you are set free (Praise God)

But if you never take this news to them out there, whoever them maybe

Whether it's a person at a coffee shop; or your neighbor; or family member coworker

Then you have neglected to participate in the mission that you were given and confirmed in your heart through prayer.

For our mission is not to force people into submission with our knowledge of God and force people to be believers

But our mission is to pray for those who dont know Christ to know Him,

To pray for others to be messengers of the good news,

To pray for ourselves to be diligent in proclaiming the gospel.

AND share what God has done for you, even though you didnt deserve it, or know everything about Him,

To be willing to invite others to participate in the journey with you.

This is God's will that he's invited each and everyone of us to participate in.

AND Prayer aligns your heart with His will.

Before Jesus began his ministry he spent 40 days in a secluded place praying and fasting to align himself with God's will.

When He experienced hardship and pain when his cousin died for doing the ministry he went off and prayed to continue to align himself with God's will.

And before he surrendered himself to make the ultimate sacrifice he went off to a quiet place and prayed to ultimately say not my will Lord but yours be done.

(Im CLOSING BAND come up)

Family as we become more intentional with our prayer time we will once again experience the refreshing peace of God.

The time we take to separate ourselves from the distractions will help align our heart with Gods.

Which will make the petitions we plead for in our prayer closets become an unseen force in the lives we touch.

And the prayers we lift up in secret, will no doubt reveal the kingdom of God to the world.

We say change the campus change the world. But if we change our prayer life we will change the world.

Let us pray and prepare to take communion.